Supplier Application Process

Diverse suppliers follow the same application process as major suppliers; however, small and diverse suppliers must request certification by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Minority Business Enterprises in order to be classified as a small, women- or minority-owned vendor. Small-, women-, and minority-owned businesses are defined by the Commonwealth of Virginia as:

Small Business – A business that is at least 51 percent independently owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and together with affiliates, has 250 or fewer employees, or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years. One or more of the individual owners controls both the management and daily business operations of the small business.

Women-owned Business – A business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest is owned by one or more women who are citizens of the U.S. or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Minority-owned Business – A business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minority individuals. “Minority individual" means an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. or a legal resident aliens and who satisfies one or more of the following definitions: African America, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Native American.

Diverse suppliers wishing to do business with the University must complete the Vendor Application Form located on the OSSP website. The completed form must be forwarded to:

Office of Strategic Sourcing and Payments
University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, Va. 23173